Today I have an interview with debut author Kitty Keswick, author of Freaksville. For more information on Kitty and Freaksville check out her website at http://kittykeswick.com/Warning: Dating a werewolf can be hazardous to your…heart.

RR: What can you tell us about your new upcoming novel, Freaksville?Here’s the blurb.

A group of teenagers, trapped in a haunted theater on the night of a full moon, find out that ghosts are the least of their worries…Every woman in the Maxwell family has the gift of sight. A talent sixteen-year-old Kasey would gladly give up. All she wants is a normal life. Shopping and talking about boys with her best friend and long-time sidekick, Gillie Godshall, consume her days. Until Kasey has a vision about Josh Johnstone, the foreign exchange student from England. The vision leads her into new realms, a lead in a play, a haunted theater ... and into the arms of Josh. Yet, both Kasey and Josh have secrets lurking in dark corners. Can Kasey’s new romance survive FREAKSVILLE?

RR: If you could be one of your characters – Who would you be? And why?

Gillie Godshall, Kasey Maxwell’s best friend. She’s a researcher by nature, and I love that about her. Gillie’s loyal and has hidden strength. She can be a leader or a follower when the situation calls for it. Plus she has an awesome power. But you’ll have to read to the end to find out what it is. Gillie is always prepared for anything…including the paranormal. (Gillie drags around a mongo size bag filled with stuff. You never know when you’ll need a flashlight, a whistle, or lots of flavored lipgloss.)

RR: What’s your favorite genre to read?

I like paranormals and mysteries. Some of my favorite authors are Kim Harrison, Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, Maria V. Snyder, Madelyn Alt, and the list goes on and on. When I’m not writing or editing, I read about five paperbacks a week.

RR: Who or what influences you when you write?

My biggest influence I would say is movies. I’m very visual. I love John Hughes movies from the 80s. Kitty and John sitting in a tree… (Go ahead say it. Get it off your chest!) He wrote The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, Some Kind of Wonderful, and many more. He perfected teen angst.

RR: What do you do on a typical writing day?

I’m a night owl. I tend to do my best writing after midnight. I’ll take notes or do a basic chapter during the day and then fill it out when I’m at my most creative.

RR: When you have writer’s block how do you break free?

If a chapter is giving me problems, I skip it and move on to something. I’ll go watch TV or do something fun to free up my mind.

RR: Can you please give us a sneak peek of your upcoming YA book?

First of all, check out the amazing trailer Madison with M2 Productions created:

Suddenly the tunnel was shrouded in darkness. The lights had failed. A deep throaty growl vibrated a few yards away.

“Stay still,” I whispered.

This was the end. I wanted to grip Gillie’s hand for comfort. But didn’t want to see my best friend’s last moments in my head. My strange list-making compulsion shoved at my thoughts. I didn’t fight it when my brain filtered through my mental catalog. It helped me process. I knew three things:

That was a real growl.

It sounded hungry.

I was on the menu.

From somewhere on my right, in all the blackness, another wolf howled. Claws scratched the rough cement as the beasts darted towards us. Their heavy panting was as loud as my own. The slight clip-clop of nails scraped on the floor in front of me as this creature stalked forward. The smell of wet dog, raunchy, burned my nose. Hot breath wheezed out a moment before the wolf sprang. I moved forward, like Wonder Woman, only stupider, because I didn’t have a magic lasso or cool boots.

My only thought was save Gillie.

Sacrifice.

Three things happened at once. I shrieked—an eardrum-bursting scream. The wolf scraped my arm—claws or teeth, I didn’t know which. It burned. Something heavy smashed my attacker. With a gurgle and a thump, the wolf was off me.

RR: How did you come up with the idea for Freaksville?

Everywhere. I keep a dream journal. Also, I get many of my ideas while driving or soaking in the tub. I let my mind zone out. Mostly, the ideas pop into my head. I’m very character driven. Kasey and her BFF Gillie were a lot of fun. I see my characters like a movie, and their energy and friendship were so strong they drove the story. It just sorta spewed out.

RR: Can you please tell us what you have planned next in the series?

Book two Furry & Freaked is my favorite so far. The conflict really stretches Kasey to her limits. She’s growing in her powers and has some very important decisions to make. Plus a few new characters throw a wrench into her life. It’s hard to say without giving away too much. Whereas Freaksville is more about acceptance and being true to yourself (Willie Shakespeare got it right: “To thine own self be true.”), Furry & Freaked is about finding your inner strength and rising to your destiny, the one you choose.

RR: Do you have a favorite character from your book?

Ruby. She’s a minor character in Freaksville, but has a bigger role as the series progresses. I love Ruby’s snark. She tells you how it is and doesn’t sugarcoat things. If you’re acting stupid, she’s blunt and tells you that you’re being an a$$. She has a style all her own and is a true individual. Ruby doesn’t let people influence her. She comes across hard, but really she’s a softy. Once you win Ruby’s friendship, you have it for life…or even the afterlife. I hope to let Ruby have a series of her own someday

RR: What kind of research do you do for your books? Do you enjoy the research process?

I love surfing the web, er, researching. For Freaksville, I even interviewed a couple of firemen for a scene in the book. I spent many years reading ghosts stories and studying Norse mythology, which plays a role in Freaksville. There are many goodies buried underneath the surface of the story—symbols and other things that at first you might not notice. But if you pay attention to them, the story is so much more. Hints of things to come, my friend.

RR: Do deadlines help or hinder your muse?

I work better under deadline. Procrastinator, moi? Perhaps, I’m just an adrenaline junkie and like the rush? But either way, I tend to do my best writing after midnight and in a time crunch.

RR: What would you like to tell your readers?

That they rock! It’s because of readers that I’m able to write. The stories are really for them.

RR: How many novels to do you have planned for your new YA series?

Originally, I had four planned. Presently, I have three Kasey Maxwell novels. I might offshoot with Gillie and Ruby, giving each of them a series that is set in the same world. My editor recently sent me the edits for book two. I’m working on those.

RR: What would be the best way for readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog? Message Board? Group?

I’m the co-president of the Class of 2k10. We’re a group of debut MG and YA authors. Our website is www.classof2k10.com. You can read a free short story I wrote, My Prom Date’s a Vampire, on my publisher’s website, www.leapbks.com. Hang out with my fellow Wolfy Chick, Judith Graves, and me at our blog:wolfychicks.blogspot.com. I’m on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and about a bazillion other sites, so feel free to friend me there. Oh, and my website is www.kittykeswick.com. I love to chat with readers so stop by anytime or email me through my website.

Post a Comment

“Reading is everything. Reading makes me feel like I've accomplished something, learned something, become a better person. Reading makes me smarter. Reading gives me something to talk about later on. Reading is the unbelievably healthy way my attention deficit disorder medicates itself. Reading is escape, and the opposite of escape; it's a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it's a way of making contact with someone else's imagination after a day that's all too real. Reading is grist. Reading is bliss.”

Tales of a Ravenous Reader

Grab My Button

Contact Me

I am an avid reader from Northern California and if you are a publisher and would like to have your YOUNG or NEW ADULT book reviewed, please email me. I accept ARCs, as well as books that have already been released. I am also more than happy to do author interviews, guest posts, and contests to promote your book as long as they are in the Young and New Adult genre. Please check my review policy prior to sending me an email, thank you. curlyshoe(at)gmail(dot)com

@ravenousreader on INSTAGRAM

Upcoming YA Bay Area Book Events

I have compiled all the SF, bay area YA and NA events in this section. If you know of any events that I have failed to post, please let me know. Also, please keep in mind that some events may change and it is best to verify all events prior to attendance.